Evolved

I posted about cellophane a while ago as the last remaining refuse that I cannot recycle and my very good friend Tom at Wiggers World kindly told me this! "Cellulose belongs to a class of compounds known in organic chemistry as carbohydrates. The base unit of cellulose is the glucose molecule. Thousands of these glucose molecules are brought together in the plant growth cycle to form long chains, termed cellulose. These chains are in turn broken down in the production process to form cellulose film used in either an uncoated or coated form in packaging. When buried, uncoated cellulose film is generally found to degrade within 10 to 30 days; PVDC-coated film is found to degrade in 90 to 120 days and nitrocellulose-coated cellulose is found to degrade in 60 to 90 days. Tests have shown that the average total time for complete bio-degradation of cellulose film is from 28 to 60 days for uncoated products, and from 80 to 120 days for coated cellulose products. In lake water, the rate o...

Today is all about Earth Hour. 'On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund. Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town. What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas. Join peopl...

The poll for this post is now closed. My thanks to everyone who took part.

The poll for Nuclear Power is now closed however if you do have any comments to make please feel free to leave them here or on the original post . My thanks to everyone who took part.

Following the recent conviction of Steve Wright for the murder of 5 prostitutes in Ipswich debate has been prompted once more regarding the pros and cons of legalizing prostitution. Some would argue that it is an ugly truth that we cannot ignore or prevent and that a legal and regulated system would at least provide a safe, disease and drug free industry for people who chose to work in it. Others would argue that it is an unacceptable truth that must be eradicated without exception. I have never met anyone who convinced me that it was exactly what they wanted to do and that they could cope with all of the consequences, but I cannot say that ‘that’ someone does not exist. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this, please feel free to leave me a comment or vote on the poll, all of your opinions are welcome.

Can anyone advise me what I can do with this stuff...the last remaining portion of my rubbish that is not being recycled, cellophane? Having got to the stage where all food waste is being home composted and all heavy plastics, tins and glass is being recycled by the local authority (hoorah for them by the way) I am annoyed that my very small bin offering consists of a bag of plastic. I know it's possible to recycle but only on a very large scale. Any advice or ideas would be gratefully received!

I have recently signed a petition on the 10 Downing Street website to have an additional bank holiday each year. The petition was created by Robert Warner and reads: 'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to create a new public holiday, the National Remembrance Holiday to commemorate The Fallen and our Nation, with the holiday falling on the second Monday in November each year, the day after Remembrance Sunday.' If you wish to sign follow this link . I have come across various petitions on the Downing Street website now. Here is the official introduction to e-petitions. Downing Street is working in partnership with the non-partisan charitable project mySociety to provide a service to allow citizens, charities and campaign groups to set up petitions that are hosted on the Downing Street website, enabling anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the Prime Minister. mySociety is a charitable project that runs many of the UK's best-...

So Nuclear Power; it is a subject filling up my email inbox at present. The Government want to build more power stations but their independent watchdog on sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Commission , say Nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or providing security of supply. I would be really grateful to hear your views and thoughts on this subject, even if it's that you are just sick to the teeth of hearing about it. Are you doing your bit, like many people you know, but feel our economies, at home and abroad, do not yet support the cause? Please also feel free to vote on the adjacent poll and see the original post: Is Nuclear the Answer? for some more useful links and information.

I got some good news via the WWF Newsletter which I wanted to share. 'Cuba offers lifeline to endangered turtles WWF applauds the Cuban government's decision to ban the hunting of all marine turtle species and products from its beaches and seas for an indefinite period. Conservationists around the world believe that the Cuban Ministry of Fisheries' resolution is a lifeline for the Caribbean's endangered marine turtles and the communities that coexist with them.' For More Information, and to Subscribe to the WWF newsletter, click here. Image Credit WWF

Ok, not a huge amount of Mel Gibson fans out there, I thought even guys had to admit this man is a looker! Anyway, apologies for the late start to the year for Evolved. I have lots of issues to explore this year and as ever am grateful for your time and participation. To get us started I have been reading about the governments recent support of another generation of Nuclear Power Plants. I hear arguments for and against although I have my own opinion I would like to explore others thoughts. If you would like to find out more about Nuclear Power there are some useful links below, supporting a variety of viewpoints. Have a look and let me know your thoughts or register your vote on the adjacent poll. I will forward the results of the poll to the Government and relevant agencies and charities. World Nuclear Association Greenpeace - Nuclear Power Nuclear Power, and Other Energy Resources Sustainable Development Commission - Is Nuclear the Answer? Image Credit: Picture Newsletter

I noticed there have been no pictures in recent posts and thought there should really be one to brighten things up a little. I have therefore chosen this lovely photo of Mel Gibson for you to enjoy! Image Credit: Huge Reviews.

I have been perusing my book: Vinegar 1001 Practical Household Uses, and have been reading about Apple Cider Vinegars' many, many health benefits. I was going to list them but there are frankly too many! Apparently it has been used since around 3000 BC because of its excellent healing and remedial qualities. Anyway, while in search of a website that would elaborate further I came across this: Earth Clinic, Folk Remedies and Holistic Cures - Apple Cider Vinegar Have a look if you have a moment, it's very interesting.

I came across a great site over at Bowledover called Morsbags . It's a website that hopes to encourage the demise of plastic shopping bags and explains just how much damage they can do to our environment and ecology. Here is their artical: Let’s do something positive to reduce the hideous number of plastic bags being used -1 million are consumed per minute globally - of which hundreds of thousands end up in the oceans. The idea is to get together with people in your local community, drink wine and make reusable cloth bags (from old duvet covers, curtains from charity shops etc) and hand them out to the unsuspecting public for free on specified dates outside different supermarkets. Meet new people, do something marvellous for the planet and beat other pods (groups) of baggers with your morsbag tally. Go to www.morsbags.com to be a part of a wonderful thing! P.S. non-commercial/ non-profitable - just full of beneficial things for everyone, especially whales! The idea is to form grou...

Happy New Year!